December 24, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Welcome to Torres Mazatlan

I, Zeb the Duck, and Alaska cousin Eider Duck, went to Torres Mazatlan resort in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Torres Mazatlan. Our home for the week.

We love Mazatlan.

We thought this Christmas tree made from palm fronds

The employees of Torres Mazatlan created this tree.

and decorated with wrapped coconuts was great. The Nativity scene was beautiful also.

Nativity scene to remember the birth of Jesus

There was his big red box labeled Toy Box.

Toys for the children of Mazatlan. This is the season for giving.

The staff at Torres Mazatlan donates toys and money to provide Christmas Eve dinners and toys for the people of Mazatlan. We think this is great. We will give them money also. Eider, Zeb and the humans want to help.

We attended the welcome party Monday evening. They served mango daiquiris and mango margaritas. We ducks did not try any but the humans seemed to really like the mango daiquiris. We liked the mariachi band.

Mariachis to welcome us to Mazatlan

The music is so happy.

Let’s dance

Just makes everyone want to dance and be happy.

When it got dark, they had the official lighting of the Christmas tree

Wow!

and the Nativity scene.

The lights create magic

Aren’t they pretty? We liked the welcome party. We liked the mariachis.

So typical of Mexico

We liked the popcorn. And we really liked the Christmas tree being lit while we were there. As they say in Mexico, Feliz Navidad. Merry Christmas to you all. We will tell you more about our time in Mexico soon.

December 22, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Santa’s Workshop in North Pole, Colorado with Zeb and Eider Duck

I, Zeb the Duck, and my Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, went to the North Pole.

At the North Pole with Santa

We visited Santa’s workshop and outdoor park. In Colorado, the North Pole is located at the foot of Pike’s Peak near Colorado Springs. This place is great. First we got on Santa’s sleigh.

Think we can help Santa deliver presents?

Next was the sky ride.

Let’s go!

Everything is so pretty in the mountains. If anybody gets lost, this reindeer tells the correct direction to walk.

Isn’t he helpful. He is our friend

We liked the snowman.

A big snowman decoration

Entering the glass blower house,

Cute house

we met a human relative. This glass blower talked to us and told us his real name is Bill Duck.

And friend and human relative Bill Duck

We liked him! Mom liked the glass also, so now we have a new glass Christmas tree ornament. There are many rides for small humans. This big candy cane with Santa on top has a slide on the outside for humans to ride.

This ride is definitely a sign of Santa’s North Pole

This ride looks so much like Christmas.

So much like Christmas.

We think you like it also. The small ferris wheel is great

For little humans.

and there is also a large one for bigger humans. Isn’t this candy cane coaster just perfect for Santa’s park?

Definitely a Christmas theme here

This fire pit was warmer and humans were roasting marshmallows here.

We love roasted marshmallows and the Bronco jacket

Yum! This picnic table is on the path to the North Pole post office.

It was too cool for a picnic today

We think these decorations are perfect for Christmas.

Merry Christmas

If you can go to the North Pole before Christmas you will have a lot of fun. This park will close for the winter Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. It is open most of the summer, so visit when you can. For more information see http://www.northpolecolorado.com

December 21, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Happy Winter Solstice 2014

The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will begin today, December 21, 2014 at 6:03 p.m. EST. This occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. In terms of light, this is the longest night of the year and the shortest day of the year. The winter solstice is celebrated by many people around the world as the beginning of the return of the sun, and darkness turning into light.

This is also the official first day of winter for us. Whatever you do today, the Colorado Traveling Ducks and their humans, wish you happiness.

December 20, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Christmas Decorations 2014

I, Zeb the Duck, and Eider Duck, drove around admiring Christmas decorations. We like the snowman,

Cheerful snowman

especially since we do not have snow yet in Denver. Santa is ready for Christmas Eve with this sleigh.

Ready to fly on Christmas Eve

The Nativity Scene reminds us of the reason for the season.

The birth of Jesus is the reason for Christmas

We ducks are not in any of these photos. The humans said we could not go into people’s yards and sit on the decorations. But we did love seeing everything. It’s just difficult to decide which pictures to show you today. All were special.

We spotted some rather unusual decorations. Here Mickey Mouse is sending Christmas greetings.

Mickey Mouse loves Christmas also.

The Christmas moose is great.

A Colorado Christmas moose.

This was one of our favorites.

This is a big guy!

Santa is a biker when he is not flying in his sleigh.

Santa is biker

We had dinner at the Buckhorn Exchange in Denver and even this buffalo was in the Christmas spirit.

Merry Christmas from Denver’s oldest restaurant.

And, lastly, no collection of Denver Christmas photos would be complete without Denver’s City and County Building.

A lighting tradition in Denver.

We hope you are enjoying Christmas decorations near you.

Merry Christmas

We like the Christmas season.

December 17, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park with Zeb and Eider Duck

I, Zeb the Duck, and my Alaska cousin, Eider Duck went to Estes Park, Colorado.

We love Estes Park, Colorado

We love Estes Park. We wandered around town; bought the best taffy at the original Taffy Shop and then our favorite creamy fudge at Laura’s Fudge Shop. Yum!!

There is some ice on the river now.

Ice means winter is coming

Christmas will soon be here, and we saw these Christmas decorations.

Merry Christmas

The bear with the Christmas hat made us smile.

Everybody is getting the Christmas spirit

Things are getting so festive. We saw this snowman and snow woman.

Our new friends

We liked them and they liked us.

Then we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park.

This is one of our favorite parks

The park will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2015. This park is beautiful.

So many beautiful views

We drove as far as we could on Trail Ridge Road. It is closed part way up the mountain for winter. The road is not maintained during the winter. There was snow here. The wind was pretty strong also and that makes everything feel cold. The snow was really swirling around the mountain peaks.

Snow swirling around the mountain peaks.

Near Bear Lake we got out to sit on this snow bank.

Humans, don’t forget us!

It is pretty, but snow is cold for small ducks.

This deer was watching us, just as we liked to watch her.

Isn’t she beautiful?

We watched this bird for a while;

We like this bird.

we like seeing so many animals in the National Park. And the elk was so close to the road.

Even elks want a snack.

He is a gorgeous animal. His huge horns makes him so majestic. We love to see the elk here. Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are always beautiful, but they are really special in the winter with snow and the feel of Christmas in the air. We hope you are enjoying the winter and anticipating Christmas also.

December 15, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Zeb the Duck goes to Denver International Airport

I, Zeb the Duck, went to the airport. My Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, flew from Fairbanks, Alaska to Denver. Eider is going to visit me for a few days. I can’t wait to see my cousin!

Mom and I drove to DIA (that’s Denver International Airport). Driving on the airport property, we saw this big blue horse.

Big Blue Horse at Denver International Airport

Many people all over the world have seen and remember this horse. Eider’s flight was late, so mom and I explored a little. We were not flying anywhere, so we could not pass through security to enter other parts of the airport. We saw this statue in an area for arriving passengers.

A pioneer in aviation

He is Captain Elrey B. Jeppeson, an aviation pioneer. Denver has lots of art in the airport. These are some of the paintings near the baggage area.

Points of interest in the United States

Mural near the baggage area by Leo Tanguma

Also by Leo Tanguma, October 1995

Denver will have a hotel in the airport in 2015.

Denver will have an airport hotel

This will be convenient for travelers and for conventions. I, Zeb the Duck, have stayed at the airport hotel in Miami International Airport. I liked it and am looking forward to Denver having an airport hotel.

Denver’s airport has many stores and restaurants, as most airports do. But this is probably only in Denver’s airport.

Relax at Denver’s airport while waiting for your flight

This market place has many interesting and tasty things.

So much to see and taste here.

It really is a nice place to spend time waiting for a flight.

Near line for security check

You may have heard many rumors and strange information about the construction of this airport, but we are ducks, and ducks don’t do drama, so we have nothing to say about that aspect.

La Memoria de la Tierra or Our Land has Memories by Judith Baca

My cousin, Eider’s plane has arrived and Eider and human are getting luggage. We will have more to tell you about our time with Eider in the future. I want to see my cousin now.

Welcome to Denver, Eider

December 13, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Political Women of Wyoming

I, Zeb the Duck, and Soapy Smith Duck, are impressed with Wyoming women. In Laramie, Wyoming we visited the Ivinson Mansion. In 1870 Edward Ivinson bought this city block for his personal residence.

Ivinson Mansion in Laramie

When completed, the mansion had central heating, electric lights and running water. The Ivinson Mansion was the “crown jewel” of Laramie. Today the mansion contains the Laramie Plains Museum, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today I want to tell you about the women of Wyoming. On the grounds of the Ivinson Mansion this statue of Elizabeth Cody Stanton is a tribute to Wyoming women as they shattered the political barriers of the times.

Tribute to the early women of Wyoming

In 1870 the first women were on a jury.

First women on jury: Eliza Stewart, Amelia Hatcher, G.F. Hilton, Mary Mackel, Agnes Baker and Sarah Pease

In the same year and for the same trial, Martha Symons-Boies became the first woman bailiff in the world.

First woman bailiff, Martha Symons-Boies

In the same year on September 6, 1870 Louisa Gardner Swain became the first woman to vote.

First woman to vote: Louisa Gardner Swain

If that were not enough firsts for the women of Wyoming, in 1910 Mary Godat Bellamy, Mollie to her friends, became the first woman to be elected to the Wyoming state legislature and began serving in 1911.

First woman elected to Wyoming legislature was Mary Godat Bellamy

She was elected again in 1918. Wyoming is a fascinating state and the early women of Wyoming were fantastic! Now I like Wyoming even more than before.

Ivinson mansion from statue honoring women in politics

December 12, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Laramie Mural Project

I, Zeb the Duck, and Soapy Smith Duck, were in Laramie, Wyoming. Walking toward the train depot, we saw great murals.

Great fish

Look at this one.

More bright fish. From same wall

The Laramie mural project is a joint venture between the University of Wyoming Art Museum, local Laramie artists, downtown business owners and the Laramie Main Street Alliance. The blank walls of buildings, usually the back of the building, are painted.

We love Mr. Peanut and the flowers

We really want to show you some more of what we saw.

Escape. This is the beginning

And…

This is the rest

We hope you go to Laramie, Wyoming to see these murals.

We love the bright colors

We saw them in different places as we were walking around.

Isn’t this great?

It was fun to turn a corner and see another mural. You can get information and locations of the murals from the visitor’s center. We did not. We enjoyed just walking and discovering murals.

Painted on two walls

We probably did not see them all, but we liked all that we saw. For more information visit http://www.LaramieMuralProject.org We know you will enjoy a day or more in Laramie, Wyoming. We did.

December 10, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Downtown Laramie, Wyoming

Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck wandered through downtown Laramie, Wyoming.

We liked the sign. The sky looks threatening.

Laramie has signs for a walking tour of the area. We saw the remaining stones from the Bucket of Blood Saloon. Lawlessness was a way of life. In the early days Laramie was run by 3 criminals: the self appointed Marshall, the Mayor and the Justice of the Peace. Rules were decided in the back room of their saloon. Landowners were forced to give up their land and miners had to give their claims. If they refused, the gunfights in the streets leave no doubt as to the name of the saloon.

This all that is left of the Bucket of Blood Saloon

The Bucket of Blood was aptly named. We ducks always follow the laws, so we would have had a difficult time in Laramie’s early days.

The sign said that about 1868 Laramie had 23 saloons, but not one church. So, St. Matthew’s cathedral was constructed.

St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Laramie, Wyoming

This is a beautiful cathedral. Next we spotted The Chocolate Cellar.

We love chocolate

Now we really love Laramie. This stone building got our attention. We think the stones are very attractive.

Made of stone

One side of the building is Inner Balance Healing Center. The other side is Therapeutic Massage. We like these old buildings. Albany County Courthouse is still used today and looks very impressive.

Albany County Courthouse is still in use today

We smiled at this sculpture in the front lawn.

Active animals

Laramie is nice. We are glad we visited downtown Laramie, Wyoming.

December 8, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Laramie, Wyoming and the Union Pacific Railroad

I, Zeb the Duck, and Soapy Smith Duck, went to Laramie, Wyoming. Laramie was founded in 1868 when the Union Pacific Railroad came to town. This sign tells about early Laramie.

Laramie in the early days

We will talk about the women of Laramie on a later day. Since the Union Pacific was a huge influence in the founding of Laramie, let’s talk about the railroad. This is the old train station.

This luggage cart is great for ducks, also

We liked the luggage cart here. There are no passenger trains coming to this station now, so the train station is now a museum. This sign is reminiscent of the past.

Once this was a very busy train station

We saw the engine and some cars from an old train.

Winters here must have a lot of snow.

The plow on the front of the engine looks like it could clear the train track in any weather.

There are many train tracks. This bridge allows pedestrians to cross all these tracks.

Great bridge system

We ducks are ready to cross the bridge, maybe.

Too many stairs for ducks to climb

It was too big for us, so we were carried. Thanks mom. This is really a long bridge.

Long bridge to cross all the train tracks. It was too windy for us.

We spend some time in Laramie and thought it was a nice town. The University of Wyoming is in Laramie, also. We liked Laramie and hope you will visit and enjoy this city also. We are happy the Union Pacific Railroad came here to start the city of Laramie.

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